Geraniums do great in containers.
Keep the blooms coming with these tips.
Few flowers look as good in a pot as these do.
Credit: Southern Living
Although many people usegeraniumsas bedding plants, we think they perform even better in containers.
Read on for geranium container ideas and how to care for these gardener favorites.
A few, however, account for almost all of the sales.
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn
The first and most popular is the common geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum).
Succulent stems become woody with age, and plants grow into picturesque shrubs.
Rather than growing upright like common geraniums, this one cascades.
Credit: Robbie Caponetto; Producer: Mark Thompson
Use it to plunge from hanging baskets,window boxes, or the edge of a big planter.
Hardy geranium (Geranium spp.)
is a flowering plant with a significant amount of variety.
Credit: Photo: Hector M. Sanchez
It’s often confused with ivy geraniums by beginner gardeners.
Most common hardy geraniums are dense, carpet-like plants with small, cupped-shaped flowers.
How To Grow
Geraniums like fertile, well-drained soil that contains plenty of organic matter.
Credit: Container Design by Mark Thompson; Photo: Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Let the soil go slightly dry between waterings, wetting only the top inch of soil.
confirm the container has drainage holes to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
Since geraniums are relatively drought-tolerant, they may rot in soil that is too wet for too long.
Remove faded flowers regularly to keep the plants blooming.
The best exposure is full sun in the morning with light afternoon shade.
Good To Know
High summer heat can take its toll on these plants.
Many common geraniums stop blooming in sizzling weather, a condition known as “heat check.”
(They’ll resume blooming when cooler weather arrives.)
Ivy geraniums like high heat even less; they do better in the Upper and Middle South.
So does ‘Sofie Cascade’.
In the Coastal and Tropical South, useivy geraniumsas winter annuals.
How To Overwinter Geraniums
These types of geraniums are winter hardy in USDA zones 9-11.
Let the soil dry to barely moist, and remove dead leaves and flowers and any rot.
Once the temperature is above 50F at night, resume feedings.
you’re free to also overwinter geraniums indoors by taking cuttings.
Start with 3- to 4-inch cuttings from the plant’s tips.
Remove any lower leaves and place the cuttings into a pot with drainage.
Fill the pot with a mixture of perlite and sphagnum peat moss.
Ensure the cuttings are placed far enough that they can stand on their own.
Water the pot and let it drain.
Cover with a plastic bag to prevent wilting and place in bright, indirect light.
After 6-8 weeks, the cuttings should have established root systems.
Remove from the rooting mixture and plant each cutting in an individual pot.
Place by a bright window until spring.
Common pests include aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies.
Spray with neem oil to treat.
They also pair nicely with other plants.
Built For The Heat
A tall weathered container is the perfect setting for showy geraniums.
‘Dark Red’ Calliope geraniums stand out against shades of lime greenery and purple grass.
This hybrid variety holds its own against humid Southern summers.
Hanging Geraniums
Combine geraniums and ferns in a wickerhanging basketfor a welcoming display on your porch.
‘Kimberley Queen’ fern pairs with pink geraniums for the quintessential Southern grouping.
Cascading ‘Aquamarine’ pilea spills over the sides.
Stair Trio
A trio ofsimilar containersholds cheerful hues sure to brighten your entryway.
Greenery adds filler and interest, but the flowers are the star here.
Basket Of Blooms
Wicker baskets add height and texture to a container garden.
As they weather from exposure to the elements, they’ll gain a charming, rustic look.
The bottom basket combines ‘Glitz’ euphorbias,begonias, and ‘Surdiva’ scaevolas.
